Hi Karen,
Sounds like you and your five children are gearing up for some Disney magic! How exciting!
Even though you have accommodations off Disney property, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the amazing variety of dining options available at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Here is a list of character dining experiences. Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort, O'hana at Disney's Polynesian Resort, and the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom are among my favorites. Once you decide which dining experience you wish to enjoy, just call (407) WDW-DINE to make your reservations. You can call up to 180 days before your arrival date to make reservations for table service restaurants like these. The best deal, financially, on character meals is definitely breakfast! If you want to have the full character dining experience without the full price, book a breakfast for your family.
As for your overall budgeting for meals while at Disney, I suggest you check out the specific menus and prices for various restaurants on Disney property. One of my favorite places to look at recent restaurant prices is on the allears.net site. You can look to see, for instance how much a smoked turkey breast sandwich and onion rings basket cost at Flame Tree BBQ in Disney's Animal Kingdom. That will help you figure out how much money to set aside for food.
If you need suggestions for specific restaurants, I'd love to help you with that! Just post another question for me on the Moms Panel site. I would be happy to tell you all about my favorite Disney dining locations.
Have fun planning your magical Disney adventure!
Jill